Patent GB-754453-A (GB)
Title: Process for production of metallic iron concentrates and titanium dioxide concentrates from ores containing ilmenite
IPC: C22B1/24
Filed: 1954-02-08
Abstract: Titanium dioxide concentrates and metallic iron concentrates are produced from ilonenite ores by reducing at 1100 DEG -1200 DEG C. without sintering or melting, with a solid carbonaceous material, e.g. coke fines, a mixture of the ore and a slagforming material, said slag - forming material consisting of from 3-5 per cent by weight of the ore of one or more sodium compounds which form sodium oxide at the reduction temperature, cooling and crushing the reduced material, separating the reduced ore from excess of reducing agent, ganzene and ashes, e.g. magnetically or by washing, grinding the ore and separating the liberated iron from the titanium dioxide concentrate, e.g. by magnetic and/or gravity methods.  The sodium compounds which may be used include soda, sodium chloride, mixtures of soda and sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and sodium nitrate, although sodium chloride is preferred, and the quantity added should be such that the proportion of titanium dioxide to sodium oxide in the slag is between 25 and 35 to 1.  The reduction is preferably performed in a rotary kiln and the ore and slag-forming materials are advantageously agglomerated, e.g. to pellets, before being charged into the kiln.  The titanium dioxide concentrate produced may be further concentrated by leaching with dilute mineral acid, the material thus obtained being useful for the production of titanium tetrachloride.  Further refinement may be achieved by heating the leached concentrate under oxidizing conditions with small amounts of alkali metal compounds, e.g. soda, potash, sodium fluoride or potassium fluoride, and the leaching with water or hydrochloric or sulphuric acid.  The product thus obtained is useful in the pigment industry.ALSO:Metallic iron concentrates and titanium dioxide concentrates are produced from ilmenite ores by reducing at 1100 DEG -1200 DEG C. without sintering or melting, with a solid carbonaceous material e.g. coke fines, a mixture of the ore and a slag-forming material, said slag-forming material consisting of from 3-5 per cent by weight of the ore of one or more sodium compounds which form sodium oxide at the reduction temperature, cooling and crushing the reduced material, separating the reduced ore from excess of reducing agent, gangue and ashes e.g. magnetically or by washing, grinding the ore and separating the liberated iron from the titanium dioxide concentrate e.g. by magnetic and/or gravity methods.  The sodium compounds which may be used include soda, sodium chloride, mixture of soda and sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide and sodium nitrate, although sodium chloride is preferred, and the quantity added should be such that the proportion of titanium dioxide to sodium oxide in the slag is between 25 and 35 to 1.  The reduction is preferably performed in a rotary kiln and the ore and slag-forming materials are advantageously agglomerated, e.g. to pellets, before being charged into the kiln.  The iron produced is in the form of a powder and is useful for melting in a steel furnace after having been rolled to pellets with a binder and surface sintered.